Norwegian People's Aid has worked in Sudan since 1986 and is one of the largest international organizations in Southern Sudan. NPA has worked closely with organizations and movements in the area both during the Civil War and after the peace agreement.

In 2005 the liberation movement in South Sudan, SPLM, and the government in Khartoum signed a peace treaty. In addition to ending the war this would ensure democratization of Sudan. The people of the south were guaranteed a referendum where they could choose whether they would still be part of a united Sudan or secede. In January 2011, the people used this right to vote in the referendum and in July the same year South Sudan was decleared an independent nation.

Massive population movements have compounded issues prevalent in this region such as food insecurity and conflict. Compounding all of these issues, are the
landmines
,
cluster munitions
and explosive remnants of war (
ERW
) that have scattered the landscape and disrupted primary access routes following the longest civil war in Africa.

Facts

South Sudan became the world's youngest state on July 9th 2011 after more than 40 years of civil war against the regime in Khartoum.

The civil war displaced 4 million people and killed around 2 million people.

Internal conflicts between soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir and those supporting former vice president Riek Machar broke out in mid-December 2013. The conflict quickly spread to other parts of the country and displaced hundreds of thousands civilians once again.